Iraq Proposes Death For Gays And Changes “Homosexuals” To “Sexual Deviants”
August, 2023, the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission introduced new restrictions for media outlets in which the word “homosexuals” is to be replaced with “sexual deviants” and the word “gender” has also been banned from use.
As the government reviews a new bill which could see Iraqi citizens put to death for being gay, reports say that unrest in the nation grows fiercer with LGBTQIA+ people placed under intensified threat of harm, reports ABC News.
Put to death for being queer?
A brief overlook at Iraq’s LGBTQIA+ rights shows that there are no laws protecting queer people from discrimination in employment, housing or the military and intense censorship is in place under strict morality laws.
The bill being considered by the government relates to an amendment of the Law on Combatting Prostitution, No. 8 of 1988. This addendum would call for Iraqi citizens caught having same-sex relations to face death or life in prison. Furthermore, “promoting homosexuality” would attract a minimum seven years in prison and “imitating women” would carry a three-year sentence.
Activist organisations report widespread violence against minorities in Iraq including LGBTQIA+ people. “Armed groups in Iraq abduct, rape, torture and kill lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, with impunity … the police arrest and also carry out violence against them,” reports Iraqi-based NGO IraQueer and Human Rights Watch.
The consideration of the bill is being interpreted by the public as a tacit endorsement of violence against queer people. Parades of militia, gangs, and even police have been photographed burning Pride flags in the street and regular reports have them carrying out guerrilla executions of alleged homosexual people.
LGBTQIA+ activist groups are calling for the bill to be withdrawn and for the violence to be publicly opposed.
